“The Officers & Members of the RVFD wish the best of luck to Fireman John F. Kennedy. Today John, along with the other men of the 1st Battalion 7th Marines, head to Helmand, Afghanistan. We are confident that John will serve our country and the people of Afghanistan proudly, just as he has done for the citizens of Rockville, MD. Stay safe Brother John, your RVFD family will be waiting patiently for your return home to the Co. 3 Bunkroom!”

Our sister site: FireRECRUITER.com reports that the US Department of Homeland Security has announced its Veterans Hiring Program as part of the SAFER-Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant program for the fire service.

You don’t need to look hard to read between the lines of this Buffalo News article to see that it reinforces the tremendous opportunity for the volunteer fire service to embrace and welcome home returning veterans by recruiting them into our ranks.

As Buffalo News Reporter Gene Warner refers to “That challenge — how to convert military discipline, teamwork and even combat experience into a successful job search…” could be answered with the opportunity to serve in the volunteer fire service. All we have to do is open our doors and our hearts to these special people who have already done so much to protect their country and their community.

Read the complete article and take heed of the challenges these service men and women face. We in the fire service hold a unique and much-needed resource in allowing them to re-connect with their community and its people by continuing their legacy of service.

It appears that even the Federal Government has caught on to the Soldier-Firefighter concept.

Building off President Obama’s urgency to provide rewarding opportunities for returning veterans, the US Department of Homeland Security has included language in the recently released FY2011 SAFER Grant Program Guidance that encourages the recruitment and hiring of men and women who served in our nation’s military post-9/11:

“FEMA strongly encourages applicants, to the extent practicable, to seek, recruit, and hire post-9/11 veterans to increase their ranks within your department in order to take advantage of the provisions of the VOW To Hire Heroes Act of 2011. More information on the Act can be found at http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/other_programs/vow.html.

In FY 2012, FEMA anticipates a preference for all SAFER applicants to have a policy in place addressing their intent to implement strategies to support this Act and to have recruiting efforts aimed at post-9/11 veterans.”

Welcome to Soldier|Firefighter. This site is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who serve our nation in protecting our freedom every day.

The goal of this effort is to create and strengthen the connection between those who serve in the military and those who serve in the fire service as a means of bolstering both their ranks, their morale and their respect for each other’s work. We have plenty in common.